Established 1998
The Penn State Award for Faculty Outreach, established in 1998, is supported by the Vice President for Outreach and Vice Provost for Online Education in collaboration with the University Network for Student Engagement and the Faculty Senate.
General Description
The award recognizes faculty who make significant contributions to engaged scholarship through outreach. Outreach is the process of extending the intellectual expertise and resources of the University through teaching, research, and/or service to address the social, civic, economic, and environmental issues and opportunities facing our Commonwealth, nation, and world. The established Penn State Award for Faculty Outreach consists of a stipend of $1,000.
Eligibility, Criteria, and Submission Materials
Full-time faculty members, including librarians, at all locations, whose primary responsibilities are teaching, research, and/or service, are eligible. See Faculty Senate Committee on Committees and Rules, Revision to the Constitution, for a definition of “University Faculty” (PDF).
The award recognizes those who have extended their scholarship to external constituents resulting in a significant outcome for individuals, organizations, or communities in problem solving or development. They have been successful in special efforts or initiatives that generated, transmitted, and enhanced knowledge, between the University and external audiences within the Commonwealth and beyond. Outreach and engaged scholarship beyond the scope of a faculty member’s normally expected outreach and extension work will receive special consideration. Outreach and engaged scholarship is embodied in the teaching, research, and service missions of the University. As such, outreach and engaged scholarship activities can take a number of forms, including but not limited to credit and noncredit instruction, technical assistance, community-based research, evaluation studies, and policy analysis.
The following information should be included in the nomination dossier:
- A completed Faculty Outreach Award nomination form (DOC).
- Vita that includes items relevant to the award. (Please limit size to no more than 5 pages.)
- Two letters of support from University colleagues, which may include the nominator.
- Two letters from external beneficiaries of outreach initiatives regarding the nominee’s outreach activity, the value, and the impact of the activity. Letters from external beneficiaries may be up to one year old.
Nomination Committee and Submission
Nominations are being sought from the University community and will be reviewed and selected by a committee representing the University Network for Student Engagement, the Faculty Senate, student representation, and the previous year’s Faculty Outreach Award recipient.
Nomination forms, with supporting nomination materials, should be submitted by email to COEAwards@outreach.psu.edu no later than December 22, 2023.
Questions
Questions concerning eligibility and nomination packet content should be directed to Richard Smith, co-chair of the Selection Committee, at res32@psu.edu.